The best animal parks: Top Zoos in Netherlands
Top zoos in Netherlands / The best animal parks for a trip with the whole family
Do you want to know where to find the best animal park in Netherlands? Don’t despair, ask Reiseuhu. Matching the summer vacation, I will show you the top 5 zoos in Netherlands. So you always have a few addresses ready if you are in Netherlands and looking for an adventure with animals. Although most zoos are made for families with children, a visit to these zoos can also be an unforgettable experience as a couple or with friends.
Apenheul
The first candidate on our list of top zoos in Netherlands is Alpenheul in Apeldoorn. Apenheul means “monkey cave” and monkeys are the only animals you will see in this zoo. As if that wasn’t special enough, the zoo managers decided to keep the monkeys outdoors. So instead of cages, the monkeys live in spacious, green and natural outdoor enclosures. Opening in 1971, the revolutionary zoo was the first of its kind in the world.
Almost half of the monkeys in Apenheul roam freely in the park. Examples of monkeys that cannot roam freely for safety reasons are gorillas and orangutans. But they are not simply crammed into cages, but live freely on a natural island in the zoo. Now do you understand why the zoo is so popular? In 2016, Apenheul even won the title of the most beautiful excursion destination in the Netherlands. Basically, you can’t go wrong with a trip to this zoo.
Dolphinarium
We continue to the Dolfinarium in Harderwijk. This zoo has also specialized in one species. The zoo is fully committed to the keeping of marine animals, especially dolphins. Everyone with a fascination for the underwater world and its inhabitants is in good hands at the Dolfinarium. Incidentally, the park is the largest marine mammal park in all of Europe. In addition to dolphins, the inhabitants also include sea lions, porpoises, walruses and small sea creatures such as a number of fish, crabs and seahorses.
If you take a trip to the Dolfinarium, a visit to the award-winning Aqua Bella dolphin show is almost obligatory. If you like, you can even jump into the water and swim a lap with the agile sea creatures. Or stay there straight away? For children from 8 to 12 years old, the park organizes the “Sleeping with Dolphins” program. Snuggled up in a sleeping bag, the little marine biologists can spend the night directly under the dolphin pool. Looking up, all children’s eyes will light up as a dolphin swims overhead.
Burgers’ Zoo
Just as much fun and exciting adventures await you at Burgers Zoo & Safaripark in Arnhem, not far from the German border. There are four completely different themed worlds in the park on a total of 45 hectares: Mexican-American desert, Indo-Pacific coral reef, African savannah and Malaysian rainforest. The highlight is the largest covered mangrove forest in the world.
And you can marvel at another sensation in the Burgers’ Zoo. The zoo is home to the largest living coral reef in an aquarium outside of Australia. If that’s not even a reason for a trip, then I don’t know what is. If you are longing for even more action and adventure, you can embark on an exciting safari. The zoo is one of the best safari parks in Netherlands.
Diergarde Blijdorp
The next zoo deservedly made it onto this list of the top zoos in Netherlands. The Diergaarde Blijdorp in Rotterdam was even voted the most beautiful zoo in the Benelux countries, and that 3 times! Arrived at the animal facility, you can take a little trip around the world to the greatest places on earth. Whether it’s the African savannah, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or the Amazon jungle – there’s more than enough to see and marvel at in Rotterdam Zoo. More than 5,800 animals and over 600 different species live here, to be precise. Be sure to check out the daily feedings. You can find a list of all feeding times on the website. A few times a year the zoo also organizes the Blijdorp by Night Arrangement. Then you can roam through the zoo at night and marvel at the animals outside of normal opening hours. The extraordinary atmosphere gives a visit to the zoo a completely different character.
Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhene
The next top zoo in Netherlands is made for all panda lovers. The two giant pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen have found a loving home in Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhene. The Pandasia is the pride of the zoo and home to the endangered species. As if that weren’t exactly right, you will also find the largest gorilla enclosure in Europe in the zoo.
For the youngest explorers, the park is home to the largest covered play jungle in Europe. The RavotAapia offers a thrilling adventure landscape for children from 0 – 12 years on an area of 4,000 m². Swinging bird’s nests, huge pirate ships, scary creepy caves and much more await the youngsters in the play paradise.
Your visit from the most popular zoos in Netherlands
These were the top 5 zoos in Netherlands for your next trip to the likeable neighboring country. If you have been there before, you are welcome to leave a comment with your tips and experiences. And for everyone who is still missing the right bargain, I have one last tip. In my travel search engine you will find all sorts of Netherlands bargains for every taste and every budget.
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